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Posted on May 4th 2020
Stanley Climbs Three Mountains to Support NHS
To raise money for the NHS, Stanley in Year 7 has climbed the UK's three highest mountains, without leaving his house. A truly Active Citizen!
Stanley set himself the monumental and ambitious task of 'climbing' the three highest peaks across Scotland, England and Wales, a total of 3,219m, by walking up and down his stairs 688 times in a week.
Stanley's innovative and curious mind led him calculate the height of each step in his house at 18cm. He then multiplied that by the number of stairs in his house, 26, giving him 4.68m. The combined height of the three mountains is 3,219m, which divided by 4.68m is 688 - so he will have to climb his stairs 688 times in a week to take on the mighty Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon mountains.
This was no easy task! Many grown men and women falter and do not make it to the top. And for Stanley the task was made even harder as he climbed his stairs without the views for motivation, only sore legs for company each day.
As of Monday 11 May, Stanley has raised a tremendous £556 for the NHS. "I hope this has inspired other students at school to do the same and I look forward to seeing everybody when school is back," said Stanley, who is a member of our student leadership team.
You can still show your support for Stanley by donating to his JustGiving Page.
Day 1 - Starting too quickly?
I started off Day 1 feeling ready and completed it rather quickly - which now I realise was a mistake! I made myself a chart to keep track, carried a pencil with me and made a mark on the paper every time I completed one time up and down the stairs. I had water breaks every ten times to ensure I stayed hydrated. I created a time-lapse of the first 15 as 100 would get boring. Here it is!
Day 2 - Completing Scafell Pike
Day 2! What can I say! I started the ascent with sore legs from yesterday and that made the walk take longer. It was pretty much the same as yesterday except it was much harder. Today I also climbed Scafell Pike (with today's and yesterday's height combined, a total of 468 per day meaning that I climbed 936m when Scafell is only 899m). I also started on Snowdon. What a day!
Day 3 - Legs feeling better
Day 3, what a great day! After Day 2’s excruciatingly painful climb, Day 3 went by in a flash! No not literally a flash, it’s just an expression. My legs felt better than Day 1 and I completed it in around 30 mins and although it was quick it didn’t keep me dry! The picture at the top of the page is me after the climb.
Stanley carries a pencil with him and makes a mark on the paper every time he completes one time up and down the stairs.
Day 4 - Grandparents urge me on
Day 4 was pretty much the same as Day 3. It was very quick, going by in a record-breaking time of 28:53. Whew, quite a sweaty one as well! At around 17 mins my Dad phoned my grandparents and they watched an odd 50 or so which really brought out my competitive nature and urged me on even quicker!
Jeez if there were speeding tickets for how fast you can go in a house I would have to rent a spare room just as a spot to keep them!
Here are some of the views Stanley is NOT seeing!
Day 5 - "I am so grateful for the support"
Day 5 went by at the speed of light, and this time I mean it! It went by so quickly I am having a hard time remembering things. Going up and down those stairs seems to be blurring all into one! As I climbed I was thinking about the NHS and all the people that donated. At that point I was having a hard time actually believing that I had made £95! And as I am writing this it is still climbing (the donations I mean, not me!). I am so grateful for the support and the generorsity of people. It really shows how as Active Citizens we can pull together to help those that are selflessly giving their lives to help people they don't even know! Today's climbing I reached the height of Ben Nevis!
Day 6 - "Sore legs, focused mind!"
My penultimate day of climbing. My legs are sore but my mind is focused! It’s hard to approach something like this (I am talking about climbing) but I like to think in fractions. For example the first time up the stairs I think to myself ‘1/100 of the way there'...but that doesn’t help. At 2 times up I think ‘1/50 of the way there’... but yet again that does not help. At 5 I think ’1/20 of the way there’ … and that sort of helps. Each time I move closer to my 100 step goal I think about what those in our NHS must be thinking, how they care for all those people. How big their hearts must be.
I check my JustGiving page. OH MY GOODNESS! £405! Are you kidding me!? I need a minute to digest this…Ok I’m back. Wait no, that is amazing, I never thought I would almost double my goal of £250. Thank you so much for all your support!
Day 7 - Thank you to everyone who has supported me!
Day 7! That time already, and what a day it was!! I started off really fast as I knew this would be my last day of sweat! As I realise every great adventure has to come to an end, even if you never leave you own property, hopefully one day I will get to see these mighty peaks in the not so distant future. So this is me saying goodbye to you and thank you for all your support!
A BIG THANK YOU! I would first of all like to thank everybody that has supported me along the way, whether that's a teacher that has donated, made everything public or a loving grandparent that has watched the climb during their dinner! I would also like to thank the efforts and resilience of the NHS. This has been such a unique opportunity and I think it's a fantastic goal for every human on earth to have donated whenever they can, wherever they are and what not a better time to do just that!
One last note! I hope this has inspired other students at school to do the same and I look forward to seeing everybody when school is back. Thank You All!
